Former White House Chef visits Dover to talk promote positive health

DOVER, Del. – Thursday afternoon, the Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention (PANO) Program within the Delaware Division of Public Health brought together experts and advocates to promote positive health results in Dover.

The Advancing Healthy Lifestyles conference is about pushing action to build better communities. The conference this year, titled “Taking Action for Healthier Communities,” will include educational presentations, sharing of best practices and success stories.

Lauren Butscher, the program administrator for PANO, explains why they organized the event. “Leaders and advocates are coming together to learn more, learn practical steps they can take to turn ideas into actual impact.”

Organizers even got Sam Kass, the former White House chef, under the Obama administration, to deliver a keynote speech. Kass tells WMDT that his time at the White House made him truly understand the weight of the issues.

“I learned in my time at the White House, and going across the country, and meeting with leaders across the spectrum, working on these issues, what it really takes and why it is so important.”

Food security issues in the first state are prevalent and real, according to Kass. “You have 1 and 8 people in Delaware who are food insecure; 1 and 6 kids are food insecure. Those populations tend to have higher instances of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, etc.”

Attendees could dive in on how to take these ideas and turn them into actionable steps to improve the community’s health. These included ways to prevent childhood obesity: encouraging better nutrition and getting more active.

Kass says there is one thing overlooked, but is changing the way health access can be delivered.

“I think technology is helping people track their wellbeing, and hopefully empowers them with the information they need to make better choices in their life.”

There were over 350 people in attendance today, including legislative and administrative policymakers in public health, nonprofit advocates of health and wellness, and as academic and medical researchers.